31 results for author: Erin Cushman

Strong Sister

by Kellye Tilford   Strong Sister, I do not know where my words are [physically] finding you; curled up on a plaid couch with mix-matched pillows, or up at 3 a.m. with tear stained cheeks, clutching tightly your sacred memories. I do not know where my words are [emotionally] finding you; in pure anger at the hand dealt you & withdrawing from all of your norms, or desperately seeking & choosing joy as you rebuild your new norms. I do not know if my words find you tugging at the robe of King Jesus, begging Him to make sense of it all, or if you are running as far & fast away from faith, religion, the Gospel, as your weary legs ...

My Hope Mommies Retreat Experience

The Hope Mommies Retreat in 2014 was announced late in 2013, and I had only recently been connected with the group online when I saw the announcement. I had looked through the FAQs, worship leaders, and speaker tabs, but I was still on the fence about attending.   What would the retreat look like? Would it just be a bunch of women sitting around crying and telling their sad stories? What if I felt uncomfortable sharing? What if they forced me to get up and share anyways?   I had a lot of questions.   I ended up being one of the “last minute” people to register, but when I finally took that step of faith I got a pretty ...

Empty Holidays; Hopeful Holidays

I remember my first Thanksgiving without my daughter. She had only been gone a few weeks, and I physically ached with missing her. A casual comment before the meal began: "We're all here..." and the silence as that comment sunk in sent me out door, on a long walk through a drizzling rain, arguing, praying and crying out to the Lord. Holidays are how we mark family growth. Pictures, memories, meals, chaos -- when you think back on childhood, don't most of your poignant memories surround the holidays? As a parent, we dream of turkey handprint paintings, introducing our child to the scrumptiousness of  heirloom recipes, and capturing ...

Mama Bird Nest Necklace Giveaway

  There is something special about a piece of jewelry that represents your children. The Mama Bird Nest Necklace from Melody Joy Designs symbolizes the unconditional and nurturing love that a mama bird gives to her baby bird. Hope Moms are an especially strong type of mama bird, loving and honoring their babies even though they may not hold them in their arms. Thanks to Melody Joy, 2 Hope Mommies will be able to hold their precious Hope Babies near their heart with their very own custom Mama Bird Nest Necklace. You may enter to win below. The contest ends at 12am on Friday, October 3, 2014 and will be announces later that day. ...

Prayer Team

I am so excited to share with you the new way that the Prayer Team will be operating! Recently, the Leadership Team got together in a cozy lake house, somewhere in Texas to discuss the 2015 year. I begged God for direction, help, insight, & ideas for the Prayer Team & walked about with quite the resolution! So, here is how the "new" Prayer Team will work: 1.) You read & agree to our doctrinal statement HERE 2.) You will be added to our private Facebook group called "Hope Mommies Prayer Team". From there… 3.) Information about new Hope Moms will be posted as they request prayer. -This information may include their ...

Fall 2014 Hope Groups

  The Fall 2014 session of Hope Groups is currently open for registration! Groups begin on September 28th and will run through November 16th. But you may find yourself asking: "What is a Hope Group?" Hope Groups are an eight week, online Bible Study and small group. There are in-person groups that meet in the Dallas and Round Rock, TX areas as well. These groups are made up of women who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss as they join together to share their stories, pray, ask questions, share hurts, happiness, and even recipes! Together, they find that there is still hope after the death of their precious sons and ...

Hope Dads: Lead the Way {And a Giveaway!}

A Note From The Director: Questions have come up several times since Hope Mommies inception, “What about dads?” or “What help do you offer for dads?” Similar questions have also been posed like, “What do you offer for couples going through infant loss?” or “Do you have retreats for couples and families?” Worry not, we have a heart for the whole family and the Hope Mommies Board of Directors and Leadership Team considers these questions often. We do indeed desire to expand the ministry into these avenues one day. For now, however, Hope Mommies is focused on sustaining and excellently executing the aspects ...

Great is Thy Faithfulness (and a giveaway!)

This past February at our Hope Mommies Retreat, we were so blessed to have Sandra McCracken lead our evening worship sets. She said something profound that I had never considered before: the hymn writers of old wrote what they knew to be true; not what they were currently experiencing. They would pen a poem of God's faithfulness, commanding their hearts to have a forward looking aspect and depend upon God's character --- in a word, they sung hope. They were not wishful thinkers, or ignorant of great pain and loss. They fully recognized the brokenness of a fallen world and the gravity of sin. But they set their hope on God, and commanded their ...

Old Mugs

by Kellye Tilford  I love "junk". I love finding "trash" on the side of the road that needs a little wash & new paint.  I have a whole corner in my bedroom dedicated to the "treasures" I find. (My poor husband. Our bedroom never looks clean.)   Along with side-of-the-road-treasures, I LOVE vintage items. Our house is full of thrift store & flea market finds. They all hold so many stories. The chair I am sitting in, writing to you, has held so many different bodies-- old, young, sick, pregnant, worried, joyful, heartbroken humans for countless years!  Sometimes I close my eyes & pretend to know all the places this chair has been-- a ...

When You Can’t Afford the Retreat

You've seen the posts on Facebook and Twitter. You've read about it on the website. You want to attend the Hope Mommies Retreat, but there's one big obstacle in your way. Money. At Hope Mommies, we understand that finances are tight, and that the retreat can be out of the range of what is affordable for some. In past years, we were able to offer partial scholarships to those in need, but this year, the funding is not available. We never want finances to be the only reason that someone doesn't attend. Despite our inability to offer financial assistance, we want to help get you to the 2014 retreat! The first thing you need to do is PRAY! If God ...